After many months of waiting, my best friends in Street Change FINALLY released their second album. I am a happy fucking camper. The album was recorded/mixed/mastered by bassist/guitarist/drummer/eligible bachelor Tom Lebeau in his studio space in Worcester. To begin, the album sounds crystal clear, featuring beautiful harmonies, thumping bass, subtle keyboards and absolutely brilliant lyrics.

The album starts off with "Regina" a song of unrequited love. Coming in with a piano intro and a strumming guitar in the background, one feels as though they are going to embark on a musical journey. Maddie sweetly comes in with the line "Regina, take my dancing in your hometown." Swoon. Tom comes in with some beautiful harmonies on the chorus. Double swoon.

The next tune on the album, "Brightside" reflects on past love. There are some sweet handclaps in the verses. Beautiful, sweet and thoughtful lyrics.

"Winter Sunday" begins with a sick guitar intro that sounds as if it is being played underwater. Maddie compares being a part from a lover as being like "a sailor's wife waiting for the sea." The buildup at the end of the song is very powerful as well.

"When You Go" is probably my favorite track on the album. Fuck guys who leave their shit all over your place. It's truly a song of finally getting the guts to kick piece of shit people out of ones life. Its bouncy, fun, badass and I am dancing in my chair as I type. The bass line in the chorus is all over the place. SO CATCHY. Have fun getting this tune stuck in your head forever and ever.

Finally, the album ends with the title track, "Gone Downtown," a powerful fucking song about a no good man. I don't want to ruin it for you, but there is one line in the song that always gets to me: "I can smell the flesh burning from hear in my cell." Woah. The song even begins with a nod to George Martin, featuring a backwards guitar intro. The driving bass drum throughout the song is a major highlight. Laporte's voice has balls in this tune.

All in all, buy the album. You won't regret it. And yes, of coarse I am bias, Maddie is my best friend, but you know what? Good music is good music! Get in here.

How does one celebrate the release of an album? With a badass show of course! This past Saturday, Street Change hosted their album release show at the 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence. & Good ol' Josh of We Are On Photographic captured the whole thing via awesome photographs!

Shanta Paloma opened up the evening with a solo set. But between her looper pedal, growly sultry voice, sexy guitar riffs and harmonica mic crooning, she had a whole symphony. Her songwriting is mindblowing, especially her yet to be recorded song "The Ballad of Will and Neptune." I especially like her her song "Under Your Kiss," which you can hear on her album here. I'm a sucker for some bossa.

Next was Father, Misty and The Big Rock, who always offer up some delicious reggae/folk. Nothing but positivity, three part harmonies and yup A KAJON. "Carless" is probably one of the most insightful songs I have ever heard. And "Caroline O'Leary" is such a sweet tale of young love. Enjoy their music and learn more about them here.

For my set, I had the honor of performing alongside Tom Lebeau, who played bass and guitar on my tunes. Tom laid down some Brain Setzer-esque guitar on "Tangerine" and "Cinnamon Sugar" threw down some amazing thumping bass on "Summer Everyday" and "Sweet Moon" but the best part? BEATLES BABY. We ended our set with a cover of "Don't Let Me Down", my favorite Beatles song.

Street Change, as always, blew me away.

They opened up their set with "Gone Downtown" which always sounds killer thanks to the thumping bass drum. The trio has grown so much in their last few months of performing. They are so in sync. They also threw everyone for a loop by launching into Linkin Park's "Numb".

Forever filled with surprises, the gang invited Travis Guin of Like Changing Seasons, The Devil In Disguise and other awesome bands to hop up on bass.

The band played together on "Regina" and "Winter Sunday," with Tom hopping on the full drum kit and Nate on lead guitar. The band switched instruments, having Nate hop on full drums and Tom play guitar for "Pile Of Bones," AND "You Shook Me All Night Long." Tom took lead vocal on the ACDC classic, proving once again that he can do fucking anything. Nate POUNDS on those drums in a John Bonham-like fury.

The highlight of the evening? Street Changes' take on the Black Sabbath classic, "Paranoid." I have seen the 3 piece version of Street Change slay these tune a number of times. However, with the thundering bass and Laporte jumping out from behind the keyboard, a whole new energy was brought to the tune. Laporte surprised the fuck out of everyone by letting out a few, howling SCREAMS.

All in all, it was such an AWESOME show. It's always awesome to get to do what you love with the people you love.